番
turn, number in a series
Readings
On'yomi
- バン
Kun'yomi
- つが.い
Nanori
- は
- ま
Meaning
番 centers on an ordered position in a sequence: a turn, a number in a series, or a watch/guard shift. The idea of a numbered slot connects all its uses.
Most common words using 番
24 of 419- 一番いちばんN5
number one; first; first place
- 番ばんN4
number (in a series)
- 番組ばんぐみN5
program (e.g. TV); programme
- 番号ばんごうN5
number; series of digits
- 本番ほんばんN2
performance (as opposed to practice); going before an audience or on-air; take
- 出番でばん
one's turn; one's shift
- 順番じゅんばんN3
order; turn
- 定番ていばん
standard item; usual thing; (a) classic; go-to choice; staple; regular fixture; standard procedure; convention
- 番手ばんて
(yarn) count
- 番地ばんちN2
house number; address
- 交番こうばんN5
police box; koban; small neighborhood police station
- 留守番るすばんN2
care-taking; house-sitting; house-watching; staying at home
- 背番号せばんごう
number on the back of a player's uniform; uniform number; shirt number; squad number
- 当番とうばんN2
being on duty; person on duty; one's turn
- 番瀝青ペンキN3
paint
- 番付ばんづけ
ranked list (entertainers, sumo wrestlers, millionaires, etc.)
- 番犬ばんけん
watchdog; guard dog
- 一番乗りいちばんのり
first rider in a charge
- 十八番おはこ
one's favourite party trick (favorite); one's specialty; one's forte
- 局番きょくばん
telephone exchange number
- 輪番りんばん
rotation (e.g. of a duty); taking turns
- 二番にばん
second; number two; runner-up
- 119番ひゃくじゅうきゅうばん
119 (ambulance and fire brigade emergency telephone number in Japan)
- 一番手いちばんて
first person (to do); person going first
Study
Etymology
番 combines 釆 (a footprint or animal track) with 田 (field), originally suggesting a field where animals leave tracks, later extended to a numbered watch or turn in a series.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 釆 looks like a paw print, and the bottom 田 is a field. Imagine a farmer checking numbered animal tracks in the field each day, taking turns to count them in order.
Reading mnemonic
For バン, picture a numbered bun in a bakery: each bun has a turn in the oven. Bun -> バン, and the numbered buns wait in a series.